A latch assembly having an emergency auxiliary release member located in a stowage compartment of a motor vehicle, such as a front trunk, is provided. The latch assembly has a coupling lever that is actuatable to move to a disengaged position if a predetermined condition is met, such as and engine on/off condition or a vehicle speed condition, for example, whereupon the latch assembly is prevented from being fully release, but only allows the latch assembly to move to a partially released state. Upon the predetermined condition be absent, the coupling lever is returned to a position such that the latch assembly can then be fully released from either a passenger compartment of the vehicle or the trunk.